Workplace Support for Cancer Challenges

Kevin Donaghy is the author of Stories of Cancer and Hope, which has 39 personal stories, including his own. Kevin was diagnosed with Stage 4 incurable cancer in December 2019 and found comfort in hearing other people’s stories. The aim of the book is to help people directly and indirectly affected by cancer to not feel alone, and thanks to sponsorship, 7,500 copies of the book have been donated to over 90 UK and Irish cancer charities and treatment centres, and all 24 UK Maggies centres have copies of the book. In 2024 the book was launched for sale physically and digitally and all royalties from sales go to Maggies cancer centres.

Since losing her daughter Laura to the aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma last year, Nicola has become a passionate fundraiser, speaker and campaigner, raising awareness of the cancer and working with charities such as The Brain Tumour Charity and Brain Tumour Research to call for better, kinder treatments for those diagnosed with brain tumours.

She is a trustee of the Our Brain Bank charity and runs the Be More Laura Foundation www.bemorelaura.com which provides information on and funds research into glioblastoma. Nicola can be found on X (Twitter) Bluesky and Instagram as @shitscaredmum – the account she set up as an outlet for the rollercoaster of emotions experienced while caring for her daughter.

Nicola Nuttall studied Philosophy at Durham University, has written for The i Paper and The Sunday Times and holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a witch. She lives in Barrowford, Lancashire where she runs an indoor play centre, Giddy Kippers, with her husband, Mark and daughter Gracie.

Her book ‘The Stars Will Still be There’ was published by Harper Collins in May.

Maggie’s is a Charity that provides free and expert cancer support throughout the UK. Cancer Support Specialists, Psychologists and Benefits Advisors are here for anyone affected by cancer and in every centre, there is a bright and welcoming space for anyone who needs it.

Ellie works closely with businesses in Manchester to ensure that every workplace is aware of the specialist support that Maggie’s can provide. Maggie’s runs a bespoke Cancer in the Workplace session on a quarterly basis, which is led by a Clinical Psychologist to equip Managers and HR Professionals with the tools to support an employee or colleague impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Maggie’s can also provide training on Managing the impacts of stress, fatigue and bereavement.

Steve Bland presented, along with the late Dame Deborah James and Lauren Mahon, the multi-award winning BBC 5 Live podcast You, Me and the Big C. The podcast was set up by Steve’s first wife, the late BBC journalist and broadcaster Rachael Bland, who died in September 2018 from breast cancer, and went on to win Best New Show at the Radio Academy and Best Podcast at the Television and Radio Industry Club awards plus many other national and international awards.

Since Rachael’s death, Steve has appeared on ITV’s Lorraine, BBC Breakfast, Channel 4, Sky News, BBC 5 Live and others, talking about his own story as well as dealing with his grief. Already a dad to nine-year-old Freddie, in 2022 he remarried and has had twins with Amy, herself a nurse at the Christie. He is passionate about proving that there is life after cancer.

Steve was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2023 by the Institute of Cancer Research and the University of London. He is also a proud supporter of CRUK and an official Friend of the Bowelbabe Fund and in April, he will be taking on his sixth London Marathon to raise money for the charity set up by Dame Deborah before her death.

Steve is also Head of PR and Comms at Pro-Manchester member Sale Sharks.